Hydrocarbon softened olefinic polymer



spite of its low iodine number, of being reactive ers and other compounding substances toimpart;

Patented Jan. 15, 1946 I STATES HYDROCARBON SOFTENED OLEFINIC POLYMER Irving E. ,Lightbown, Roselle, N.-J., and Nathan S. Beekley, Jr., Baton Rouge, La., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Jason, Incorporated, a corporation of Louisiana No Drawing. Application August 15, 1940,

Serial No. 352,744

iiolaims. (01. 260-30) This invention relates to synthetic polymers; amounts of petroleum .oils softens the material, relates particularly to copolymers or interpoly both before andafter curing and gives to the ma'- mers of isoolefins, such as isobutylene, with diterialthe property of bounce or rebound, pre olefins such as butadiene, dimethylbutadiene, isoviously unobtainable in the material; and in ad,- prene, pentadiene, and the like; as well as to poly- 5 dition, greatly improves the-[milling charl'ac'terolefins such as polybutadiene; and relates espeistics before curing. This result "is p t c l a yv cially to compounding ingredients, such as hydroadvantageously obtained by the use of relatively carbon oils, for improving the bounce and resilheavy oils of low volatility. Furthermore, for a,

iency ofthe poly e While Softening thepolymer v temporary softness in milling, a light, volatile hy- I and improving its plasticity during mi1ling, proc- 1 drocarbonoil may be used, which is volatilizedl essing and after curing with sulfur. during the curing,leavingthe material in a con-' It has been found that mixtures of an isoolc dition whichmaintains its original Shorehard fin, such as isobutylene, with a diolefin, such as ness after curing with sulfur. a 1v butadiene or isoprene or dimethylbutadiene or In a similar manner thediolefinic polymers pentadiene ca be p m ed by a l tempera such as polybutadiene, polychloroprene and the ture technic at temperatures ranging from ,,'40 like work much moreeasily on the mill. 100111 C. to-150 C. orlower, into aplastic, elastic in-. I more vigorouslyand-are rendereddefinitely softer terpolymer, This technic utilizes a catalyst by the addition ofsimilar small amounts of hywhich is preferably a solution of aluminum ch10 droearbonsoroils.

ride in a low freezing alkyl halide, or carbon di- Thustheinvention consists of a polymerof an. sulfide, or similar solvent. The resulting polymer isoolefin with a diolefin, or a diolefinic polymer or may havea molecular weight ranging from 15,000, interpolymer, compounded with a hydrocarbon oil to 250,000 or above, and maylhavean iodine numand sulfur, to which ma be added a sulfurization; ber ranging from 1 or 2 to 40. or 50, and it shows aid such-as Tuads. (tetramethyl thiuram disulthe unexpected and veryimportantproperty, in-2 fide) or a similar organicsulfide. andvariovsfillwith sulfur to 1 yield ;a cured material which tothe material the desirable characteristic of re-, has a tensile strength ranging. fr0m-2,000- pounds bound, to improve the physical character sticsof per qu e, 0 u ds p rSquare-inch, the material during milling,- and to soften the, and-an elongation ranging from about 900% to polymer, both'before andafter curing. 1200%. Thus-the material has'm ny of the pr p- Thus an object of thefinvention is -to,,po lyerties of high grade vulcanizedrubber However, 4 a merize a-mixture of olefins into an interpolymer;

itlacks the capability of bouncing as rubber does, havingsome of the phys cal characteristics of and a curedball of the polymerwhiehlooks and rubb r, and to impart to the product the capafeelsmuch like India rubber, when thrown on the bilityof bounce and rebound. to soften1 the ma fi r Sh Ws Im t n0 und, u c mu h as terial, and to improve its physical characteristics a water-saturated sponge would do. Also such- 7 duringiworking on the mill bv-the additionofhyl polymers, either before or after curing, are difii drocarbon. oils. Other objects and details of the l cultto handle on the mill, because ofthis toughinvention will-be apparent from the; followingness, and in addition, it. ishighly desirablethat description. l f a l. A

for maximum strength, elasticity, fiexure'resist In practicing the inventiona desirablepoly er ances and abrasion resistances in the finished; is produced from a mixture of-olefinic m terial material, as little breakdown of'molecular weight. prepared at a low temperature; A corivenient be allowed to occur on the mill as possible, and. mixture may contain isobutylene in the proporfor many uses, a greater softness of the-curing is tion of, '70 to 99 /2. parts-with a, diolefinsuch as desired than is normally characteristic of' the butadiene, isoprene, pentadiene, -dimethylbutacured D ymers.-

a v a 1 diene, and similar conjugated-"dioleiins m/the Similarly, other typesof syntheticrubber-like proportion of 30 to /2 pa s- "Ib -mix e polymers suchas polybutadiene, known as cooled by theinclusion of from 1 t oipfl pi; Buna, the interpolymers of butadiene and a diluent-refrigerant, h s l id h l n qylonitrile and similar. polymers which are also uid ethane, liquidmethane, or by; the inclusi n capable of beingsvulcanized with sulfur because of I an'excess of, solid carbon dioxideas asimple of their high unsaturation, show difficulties, esperefrigerant and, if desired,- the inclusion of an cially-duringprocessingbecause of stiffness and, appropriate diluentsuch asethyl ormethyl chic; relatively low plasticity, and undesirably high ride; propane,- or other low oiling mC UhYQ 'Q" hardness and lack of pliability.- h Y carbon. To thismixturethere is thenadded a It is now found that the additionhof small polymerizationlcatalyst whichis-p fefe f b ya lution of aluminum chloride in ethyl or methyl chloride, or in carbon disulfide or other suitable inert low freezing solvent. The catalyst is preferably sprayed over the surface of the rapidly stirred olefinic mixture, and the polymerization takes place rapidly to yield the desired high molecular weight copoiymer or interpolymer of the iso-olefln and diolefln. For optimum strength and quality in some instances, it is desirable that the polymerization reaction does not go to completion, and accordingly when from 50% to 85% of the reactants have polymerized, that is, after a time interval of from about 3 to minutes, the spray of catalyst is discontinued and the residual catalyst quenched by the addition to the reaction mixture of a substantial quantity of a quenching agent such as an alcohol or ketone or anhydrous ammonia or other basic or oxygenated substance which will combine with the aluminum chloride to destroy its catalytic powers.

The polymer is then brought up to room temperature and washed with water. preferably in a kneading machine to remove the decomposed catalyst. If desired, the reaction mixture may include 0.01 part to 3 or 4 parts of flowers of sulfur. which the polymer occludes during the polymerization reaction. The. presence of the sulfur protects and maintains the molecular weight of the polymer during subsequent heating and milling operations. After the polymer has been washed. it is desirably given a drastic milling treatment in a Banbury type mill, to improve .its curin characteristics and avoid the development or bubbles, flaws and discontinuities in the body of the cured material.

The washed polymer, either with or without the Banbury treatment, is then desirably comounded with various filling agents. If sulfur has not previously been incorporated into the polymer, from 1% to 4% of sulfur is added to the 40 polymer and milled into the material. .To fa- Tensile strength.-pounds per square inch..- 2,500

Elongation ..per cent 1,200 Shore hardness "degrees", 23 Bounce per cent..- 55 .Softening power Excellent It may be noted that the bounce, in terms of per cent, is the percentage of the height from which it is dropped, to which it rebounds. It may be noted that a good lively rubber compound has a bounce of 60-70% and the bounce of the copolymer containing no hydrocarbon is less than 5%. It may be noted also that the Shore hardness of the compound without the-hydrocarbon is Example 2 A similar compound containing carbon black was prepared with similar advantageous result. The following formula was found to be satisfactory.

. Parts 35 Isobutylene-butadiene copolymer 100 Paracymene 35 Sulfur 3 Carbon black '75 Stearic acid 5 Zinc oxide 5 cilitate this milling operation, there is added on the mill a substantial proportion of hydrocarbon substance, which may range from 0.5% to 40% or of the weight of the polymer present, and may consist of a relatively light, volatile hydrocarbon of the approximate nature of naphtha or gasoline, or may consist of a heavy hydrocarbon oil of the general nature of fuel oil or lubricatin oil, or may consist of various saturated or unsaturated oils or esters, ethers or other substances.

Additional fillers and improving a ents such as zinc oxide in the proportion of from 1% to 40% of the amount of the polymer may be added; stearic acid in the proportion of 0.1% to 5 or 10% may likewise be added; carbon black in the proportion of 5% to 200% of the weight of the polymer may likewise be added and various other flllers such as chrome green, lithopone, barytes, etc.,

Tuads (tetra methyl thiuram disulfide) 1 This compound was prepared in the same manner as the compound in Example 1, and similar improvement in working characteristics on the mill, and in bounce when cured are observed; and in addition, the material is much more resistant to flexure and abrasion.

Tensile strength--pounds per square inch-.. 2,200

50 Elongation 1,000 Shore hardness degrees 35 Bounce per cent..- Softening power Excellent Example 3 A similar compound containing 55 :ee. naphtha was prepared according to the following formula in which the naphtha plays the part of a temporary softener.

Parts may also be added Isobutylene-butadiene copolymer 10 Example 1 55 naphtha 25 Sulfur 3 A desirable embodiment of the invention was stearic acid 3 prepared according to the following formula: z oxide 5 p t Tuads 1 lsobutylene-butadiene copolymer 100. This compound was prepared as before, and Paracymene 35 the presence of the naphtha softens the material Sulfur 3 and greatly facilitates the milling and the incor- Stearic acid 5 7o poration of the various substances on the mill. c oxide 5 The material, after the addition of the Tuads on T11R65 (tetra methylpthml'am disumde) 1' the cool mill, was placed in the mold and cured.

'I'he-copolymer was placed upon a warm double roll mill, the milling begun and the P racymene added in successive small quantities until the m x- DuringV-the curing operation, the naphtha volatilized, but without injury to the polymer, and a high grade cure was obtained free from bubbles,

flaws, discontinuities and blemishes of any sort. The resulting cured polymer has substantially the characteristics of polymer cured in the ordinary fashion without plasticizing by the addition of the hydrocarbon substance. A typical material so prepared and cured had the following characteristics:

Tensile strength pounds per square inch 3,800

Elongation per cent" 1,100 Shore hardness degrees 35 Bounce per cent.-- Softening power Excellent It may be noted that the curing of all of these compounds is desirably conducted at a temperature of approximately 155 C. (65 pounds steam pressure) for a time ranging from 15 to 60 minutes.

Example 4 A similar compound with gas oil was prepared according to the following formula:

Parts Isobutylene-butadiene copolymer 100 Gas oil (13. range 450 to 700 F.) 25 Sulfur 3 Stearic acid 5 Zinc oxide y 5 Tuads 1 This material was prepared on the mill in the same manner as described in Example 1, and cured in a suitable mold as described in Example 3. The resulting cured compound showed the following characteristics:

Tensile strength pounds per square inch 3,300

Elongation per cent 1,200 Shore hardness degrees 25 Rebound per cent .25 Softening power Good The above composition may be called a pure gum stock in view of the relatively small proportion of added ingredients. This stock may,

however, be compounded with carbon black in f A lighter, somewhat more volatile hydrocarbon oil may be used than is indicated in Example 4. For this purpose, a medium furnace oil may be used according to the following formula:

Parts Isobutylene-butadiene copolymer 100 Furnace oil (B. range 350 to 450 F.) 25 Sulfur 3 Stearic acid 3 Zinc oxide 5 Tuads 1 This compound was prepared upon the open mill as above described in Example 1, and was cured as indicated in Example 3. When so cured the characteristics of the product were as follows:

Tensile strength pounds per square inch 3,200 Elon ation per cent 1,200 Shore hardness -degrees 25 Rebound per cent- 45 Softening power Excellent In the above examples, there are indicated a variety of hydrocarbon substances having boiling points ranging from 70 F. to 700. F. Such boiling points are, however, not the limits since somewhat lower boiling and higher boiling substances may be used. Such hydrocarbon oils serve a variety of purposes. First they may act as temporary softeners" for facilitating the milling operation by making the uncured stock softer and more plastic and allov. me more uniform dispersion of fillers, etc., thereby speeding the milling and reducing the loss of molecular weight which occurs during the milling. Secondly, they may not only serve as softening agents during the compounding process, but as permanent softeners or elasticators to increase the bounce, rebound and initial "snap" of the cured polymer. Such properties are especially desirable in golf balls, playing balls, motor mounts and similar structural elements where a substantial bounce or snap is required. I

The above examples'utilize only hydrocarbon materials. The invention is not, however, limited to such substances, but their substituted derivatives which are solublein the polymers employed, such as chlorobe'anzene, nitropar'aflins, high molecular weight ketones. and ethers, such as dibenzyl ether, and the like may be used. When dibenzyl other is used in 20% proportion in Example'2 it yields a soft, plastic compound whichcures to a blister free soft sheet with a hardness of 25 'Shore.

'As above pointed out, the present invention is applicable to other. polymer substances than to the interpolymer of isobutylene' with a diolefin. It is particularly useful withf'such synthetic polymers as the polybutadienes known as Buna, and the interpolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile known as Buna-N as .well' as the other types 0f buna polymers, and the various other-curable olefinic polymers such as polychloroprene and the like. 1 i

Particularly effective results are obtained by the invention in the, preparation of mixtures of the various polymers with natural rubber. Because of the relative,stiflness of these various polymers, and the fact that they are not susceptible to apartial breakdown and then arepolymerization in a manner which is characteristic of rubber, substantial 'difficulty has been encountered in the working of the materials on the mill, particularly when it is desired to admix them .with rubber, with a minimum breakdown in molecular weight of both substances. For this purpose the admixing of the above mentioned quantities of hydrocarbon oils exerts a softening effect upon the polymers which greatly facilitates the preparation of the mixture with rubber.

Thus the invention eonsist s of a compound of a rubber-like polymer or interpolymer with a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative incorporated therein, which mixture has the added property of rebound or bounce and in addition the desirable properties of softness and easy working on the mill, and softness as well as bounce or rebound in thecured form.

While thereare abovedisclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the invention, it is possible to produce still other embodiments, without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is therefore desired that only such limitations be imposed upon the appended claims asare stated therein or required by: the prior art.

The invention claimed is:

l. A composition of matter comprising an isoolefin-diolefln interpolymer characterized by a molecular weight within the range of 15,000 to 250,000; an iodine number between 1 and 50; reactivity with sulfur; and when cured with sulfur, a tensile strength within the range of 2,000 to 4,500 lbs. per square inch and an elongation within the range of 900 to 1200%, sulfur and a hydrocarbon oil.

2. A composition of matter comprising an isobutylene-diolefin interpolymer characterized by a molecular weight within the range of 15,000 to 250,000; aniodine number between 1 and 50; reactivity with sulfur; and when cured with sulfur, a tensile strength within the range of 2,000 to 4,500 lbs. per square inch and an elongation within the range of 900 to 1200%, sulfur and a liquid hydrocarbon.

3. A composition of matter comprising an isobutylene-diolefln interpolymer characterized by a molecular weight within the range of 15,000 to 250,000; an iodine number between 1 and 50; reactivity with sulfur; and when cured with sulfur, a tensile strength within the range of 2,000 to 4,500 lbs. per square inch and an elongation within the range of 900 to 1200%, sulfur and a hydrocarbon boiling between 70 F.-'700 F.

4. A composition of matter comprising an isobutylene-diolefln interpolymer characterized by a molecular weight within the range of 15,000 to 250,000; an iodine number between 1 and 50; reactivity with sufur; and when cured with sulfur, a tensile strength within the range of 2,000 to 4,500 lbs. per square inch and an elongation within the range of 900 to 1200%, sulfur, a hydrocarbon oil softener, a filler and a vulcanization aid.

5. A composition of matter comprising an isooleiin-diolefln interpolymer characterized by a molecular weight within the range of 15,000 to 250,000; an iodine number between .1 and 50; reactivity with sulfur; and when cured with sulfur, a tensile strength within the range of 2,000 to 4,500 lbs. per square inch and an elongation within the range of 900 to 1200%, a hydrocarbon oil softener, sulfur, a filler, and a suliurization aid.

6. A composition of matter comprising an isoolefln-diolefln interpolymer characterized by a .molecular weight within the range of 15,000 to 250,000; an iodine number between 1 and 50; reactivity with sulfur; and when cured with sulfur, a; tensile strength within the range of 2,000 to' 4,500 lbs. per square inch and an elongation within the range of 900 to 1200%, a hydrocarbonal softener. sulfur, a filler comprising carbon black and a sulfurization aid.

7. In a method of processing a. synthetic polymer substance produced by mixing an isoolefln and a diolenn in the proportion of 70 to 99% parts of isoolefln with 30 to /3 parts of diolefln, cooling to a temperature below (2., adding to the mixture a catalyst comprising dissolved aluminum chloride, polymerizing the mixture into a high molecular weight polymer, the steps in combination of adding a hydrocarbon oil substance and curing the polymer and oil mixture with sulfur.

8. In a method of producing a synthetic polymer substance produced by mixing an iso-olefln and a diolefln in the proportion of to 99 parts of iso-olefln with 30 to /2 parts of diolefln, at a temperature below -40 0., adding to the mixture a catalyst comprising dissolved aluminum h o e. p ly eri in the mixture into a high molecular weight polymer, the steps in combination of milling the polymer with a hydrocarbon oil substance, adding sulfur and a sulfurization aid and curing the polymer and oil mixture.

9. In a method of producing a synthetic polymer substance produced by mixing an iso-olefin and a diolefln in the proportion of '70 to 99% parts of iso-oleiin with 30 to parts of diolefln, at a temperature below 40 C. adding to the mixture a catalyst comprising dissolved aluminum chloride, polymerizing the mixture into a high molecular weight polymer, the steps in combination of milling the polymer with a hydrocarbon oil substance and curing the mixture at a temperature ranging between C. and C. for a time interval between 5 and 60 minutes.

10. A composition of matter comprising an isobutylene-diolefin interpolymercharacterized by a molecular weight within the range of 15,000 to 250,000; an iodine number between 1 and 50; reactivity with sulfur; and when cured with sulfur, a tensile strength within the range of 2,000 to 4,500 lbs. per square inch and an elongation within the range of 900 to 1200%, sulfur and paracymene.

11. A composition of matter comprising an isobutylene-diolefln interpolymer characterized by a molecular weight within the range of 15,000 to 250,000; an iodine number between 1 and50; reactivity with sulfuri and when cured with sulfur, a tensile strength within the range of 2,000 to 4,500 lbs. per square inch and an elongation within the range of 900 to 1200%, sulfur and naphtha.

IRVING E. LIGHTBOWN. NATHAN S. BEEKLEY, JR. 

